The LA Clippers got the Home Win 122-117 over San Antonio on Tuesday but decided to sleepwalk through the 4th quarter failing to cover the -12.5. The Clippers were up 13 heading into the 4th, needing only to play the shorthanded Spurs even for 12 minutes to get us the win, but ceded an unbelievable 39 points late to fall short. The Clippers did fine offensively, without the resting Kahwi Leonard, as Powell (25), Zubac (24) and Harden (21) led the way. But their usually solid Defense was nowhere to be found as they allowed the Spurs to shoot 53% from the field, and 41% from deep, with Harrison Barnes scoring 24 points and going 6-8 from 3. LA failed to cover the spread for just the 2nd time in their last 14 games. This was a good example of how important Leonard is to the Clippers overall defensive scheme. Despite the loss, this team is playing well and should not be overlooked in the Western Conference playoffs. Losing 1 Unit brings our rolling 43 day record to 73-58 for PLUS 68.6 UNITS.
1* SOLID – (NBA) LA Clippers -12.5 (122-117) LOSS
1* SOLID – (NBA) Clippers -12.5: There is a logjam in the West as 5 teams between the 4th and 8th seeds have 32 losses. This pretty much guarantees those teams will try their best to win, which is always the issue with the NBA this time of year. Of those teams the Clippers have been most impressive as they have gone 14-3 straight up and 12-1 ATS down the stretch. Kahwi Leonard is questionable tonight but the Clips just beat Dallas on Friday by 25 without him so we are still involved either way. The Spurs are just playing out the string as injuries to Wemby, Fox and Sochan have derailed a once promising season. San Antonio comes in having lost 7 of 8 and we have no reason to believe they can hang around for 48 minutes, on the road, against the red hot Clips. This one gets stretched out in the second half.